China’s foreign trade in goods posted a resilient start in the first quarter of 2025, expanding by 1.3 percent year-on-year to reach a substantial 10.3 trillion yuan ($1.41 trillion), according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Monday. This performance reflects the enduring strength of China’s trade engine, supported by consistent policy backing and robust partnerships.
From January to March, exports surged by 6.9 percent year-on-year, totaling 6.13 trillion yuan, demonstrating strong external demand for Chinese goods. Meanwhile, imports declined by 6 percent to 4.17 trillion yuan, influenced by various global market factors and price fluctuations.
This marks the eighth consecutive quarter in which China’s total import-export volume exceeded 10 trillion yuan, underscoring long-term momentum in trade performance. Monthly trends revealed a 2.2 percent decline in January, stabilization in February, and a solid rebound with 6 percent growth in March, indicating dynamic recovery patterns.
Trade with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) emerged as a strong growth driver. In Q1, BRI trade reached 5.26 trillion yuan—up 2.2 percent year-on-year—outpacing the overall trade growth rate by 0.9 percentage points and accounting for 51.1 percent of China’s total trade volume.
China’s trade with ASEAN also saw robust momentum, growing 7.1 percent to 1.71 trillion yuan, further highlighting the importance of regional economic integration.
Another key contributor to the Q1 performance was the electro-mechanical sector. Total imports and exports in this category rose by 7.7 percent to 5.29 trillion yuan. Exports of household appliances, laptops, and electronic components experienced notable increases, while imports of parts for data processing machines, shipbuilding materials, and marine engineering equipment also showed significant expansion.
Deputy Head of GAC Wang Lingjun emphasized that despite intensifying global challenges—including geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty—Chinese exporters, local governments, and agencies have effectively adapted to ensure continued trade stability and growth.
“By combining proactive responses with strong structural foundations and international partnerships, China has laid a solid groundwork for the rest of the year,” Wang noted during a press briefing.